Farm & Food

​So, November turned out to be the fourth warmest on record since Ormstown weatherman Peter Finlayson started keeping records in 1967. The average temperature for the past month was 5.0°C, which compares with the record on 5. 8°C in 2011; the coldest was -0.8°C in 1996, and normal is 3.3°C. Last year, in case you can’t remember that far back, the average was 2.3°C. Total precipitation for the month of November was 53 mm, or 2.1 inches, with just 2 cm of snow amongst the rain. The first few days of December have continued the mild weather trend with Sunday being quite glorious and very un-winter like. Peter also noted, with the climate change discussions on-going in Paris as a hot topic (excuse the pun) that the average temperature for Ormstown was 6.116°C in 1967, compared with the latest figure for 2014 which was 6.500°C or an increase of just 0.384°C over the 48-year period. Will we have any winter at all in the coming months? Peter, amongst a number of observers, have noted the significant absence of geese so far this fall – does that mean it will be unseasonably warm for a while and they will show up later? On the other side of the fence, Peter also noticed that his beef cattle have the thickest coat on their hides he’s ever noticed – and that’s usually an indicator of a cold winter ahead. Standby, the truth will reveal itself shortly . . .